Reposted from fjrowners.ws member newmexicofjr :


"I really didn't want to start this thread. This is a tragic story that occured last night (about 8:30 pm). You can never tell your riding buddies to "BE CAREFULL" enough. I want to tell the story for awareness, it can happen and it did last night.

My best friend here in Albuquerque is Arnie. Arnie has three son's. The oldest is James Gallegos. James had a GSXR600. He has owned and riden this bike for over two years. He rode frequently and knew his machine well.

Last night he was riding in town with a friend of his. His friend was new to motorcycles. His bike and riding experience is only a few months old. James was riding with him "Showing him the ropes" if you will. They came up to stoplight, his buddy stopped, James tried to stop, but ended up standing the bike on it's front wheel (like a stoppie) and went over the handlebars. The bike fell on him. The peg entered his body and shoved his liver up into his body cavity - breaking all the major arteries. James bleed to death very quickly. The doctors say that even if they would have started surgery at the scene, the damage was too severe and they would not have been able to save him.

Nobody knows why he went over. His buddy didn't see it all because James was coming up behind him. Was James trying to do a "Stoppie" and lost control? Did James friend stop abruptly and put James into a "panic stop"? Nobody knows, but regardless, the result doesn't change. James always road with a helmet and gloves, not sure if he had his riding jacket on last night (it was warm here).

James was to turn 21 years old this weekend. Arnie was to take James to Las Vegas this weekend for his 21st birthday. They had planned this since James was 17, they were set to leave today.

James had already worked his way up in "Coca-Cola". By the age of 20 he had his own home, car and motorcycle. He was a very active person and always in excellent condition. Young, healthy, full of life. He was also active in the military reserves. He was to go to Iraq next month (another reason Arnie wanted to take him out to have some fun this weekend).

You see young kids (and others) doing stunts like stoppies and other things that are not in control. Sometimes they are successful and it looks cool, sometimes they fall and go to the hospital, but death also happens. James was likely not purposely doing a stunt, it was likely a panic stop. Seeing him dead in the hospital last night was very traumatic.

Watch your distance out there, monitor other vechiles, ride your own pace - PLEASE BE CAREFUL"

 

IM sorry for your loss. Im getting tired of reading these posts and listening to these stories guys. Ride safe guys so we can stop it.

 

Thats horrible what happened. Everyone, please please please be careful!!!

 

Wow, ive never heard of anything like that ever happeneing, thats insane, rough to loose another youth, terrible tragedy.

 

wow, im sorry to hear about this. Its stuff like this that makes me wanna not ride, or sicrourage my friends not to start, i dunno why, bt i just get that feeling. Sorry again man.

 

Sorry to hear this. One of my buddies in the hospital recovering in the ICU. He went over the bars also. He had just upgraded his brake lines and pads and ended up locking up the front wheel. He was thrown from the bike and has a crushed outer wing on his 2nd vertebrae (left side). He is finally out of his coma and is somewhat awake. He will have a long road to recovery. RIDE SAFE PEOPLE!!!

 

You always need to be aware when riding and be in control of your bike. Hopefully people might learn from this tragedy.

 

hate to see a young life wasted like that. sorry buddy. Atleast u doin ur job by spreadin the words. Becareful out there guys, if i ever see anything like that happen in real life. My ridin dayz are be over.

 

yeh my bud stopped riding cause his friend died while they were riding together, i think i would stop too, bikes are amazing machines, but with amazing machines comes amazing responsibility...oh that was weak....anyway...take care guys , be safe.

 

Scary. My Macro economics teacher is all into bikes and last Thursday when we went to class we found out he was in an accident the night before. We still know nothing more than that but might here something tomorrow